West Bengal polls 2016: Modi likely to kick off campaign on March 26

Kolkata, March 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to begin campaigning in West Bengal for the upcoming Assembly elections fom March 26. Modi will attend at least seven rallies in three phases, claimed the state BJP leadership.

Besides the PM, other top BJP leaders including party president Amit Shah, central ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley and Smriti Irani besides chief ministers of some BJP-ruled states will also campaign in the poll-bound state, said an Ei Samay report.

Modi's first rally is likely to be held in Kharagpur. State BJP chief Dilip Ghosh is contesting the election from Kharagpur Sadar constituency.

The first of the seven phases of election in Bengal will be hdl on April 4. the final phase will be held on May 5 and the results will be announced on May 19, along with those of three other states and the Union Terrirory of Puducherry.

The BJP leaders who will campaign in Bengal have been put under three categories. While Category A comprises Modi, Shah and Singh; Category B includes Swaraj, Gadkari, Jaitley and Irani. Category C includes chief ministers of some BJP-ruled states and some other leaders.

Likewise, the 294 Assembly seats in the state have also been divided into three types and the leaders will campaign in those categories accordingly.